Are you interested in keep tabs on the whereabouts of your kids for security purposes, or perhaps monitor the location of your on-field employees? Fortunately, the prevalence of smartphones and availability of various locating tracking technologies has made it extremely easy to remain informed of location information on the go. Take a look below to learn everything about some of the most popular techniques to track the location of someone’s through their mobile phone.

1. GPS Tracking

Accuracy: Few Meters

GPS tracking is the most widely used technique for tracking location. GPS technology works on 24 satellites that revolve around the earth and send radio signals to the receiver, which are then used to record and transmit location coordinates. The receiver must be connected to at least three satellites to gather accurate information. GPS not only tells the exact location of the device, but also provides historic navigation data. What distinguishes this technique from other tracking techniques is that it offers maximum accuracy, which ranges up to a few meters only.

However, it has a few limitations. Firstly, it can detect the location of only GPS-enabled devices. Secondly, it is affected by the weather conditions. Thirdly, it slows down or fully stops working in garages or basements, tunnels, and really tall buildings.

2. Wi-Fi Tracking

Accuracy: 20 to 30 meters

Wi-Fi tracking uses Wi-Fi hotspot or access point to track the location of a device. In the US alone, there are over 72,000 Wi-Fi access points, with a growth rate of 40 % annually. Access points are typically available at public and private places both, making it easier for us to track the location of the desired device.

Wi-Fi tracking is less accurate than GPS tracking as the results vary from 20 to 30 meters, but the positive thing about this tracking technique is that it works perfectly indoors. Also, Wi-Fi signals are not affected by weather conditions.

Just like GPS, Wi-Fi tracking also has a few drawbacks. Firstly, it requires Wi-Fi signal to work properly. Secondly, it does not work unless the Wi-Fi hotspot database is updated after regular intervals, say a few days. Currently, Skyhook Wireless, the first company to use this technology and currently maintains a database of 100 million Wi-Fi hotspots, and Google collects the location information of Wi-Fi hotspots.

3. GSM Tracking

Accuracy: few miles to 50 meters

GSM or cell tower based tracking is the cost effective way of tracking the location of smartphones. Unlike GPS or Wi-Fi tracker, GSM does not require anything to track location. Every device which is connected to the cell tower can easily be tracked. Also, it is relatively faster than the aforementioned two modes of tracking location.

GSM tracking also has a few drawbacks. Firstly, the accuracy of its results depends on the number of cell towers present in the surroundings of the device to be tracked. Secondly, its accuracy varies from a few miles to 50 meters.

That is all we’ve got to share with you regarding the different location tracking technologies available today. Be sure to keep the information we shared with you in mind when investing in a location tracking app.